Improvement in gate-latches



M. DAVENPORT.

Gate-Latch.

No. 199,964. Patented Feb. 5,1878.

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I W V I I I I 1 I l l I V E E Q UNITED STATES PATENT C'FFIGEQ MONTAGUEDAVENPORT, OF FIN SBURY, LONDON, GREAT BRITAIN.

IMPROVEM ENT IN GATE-LATCHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 199,964, dated February5, 1878; application filed September 27, 1877 patented in England,December 8, 1874.

- described.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a latchwhich embodies my invention and Fig. 2 is an under-side view of thesame.

A designates the base-plate for securing the device to the door or gateB. G designates the latch proper, which is formed in one and the samepiece with the handle D, or otherwise rigidly connected thereto, thelatter being offset so as to project outward from the door sufficientlyfor convenient grasping with the hand.

Between the latch O and handle D is a circular enlargement or hub,through which a bolt or stud, E, passes to secure the latch and handleto the plate, and on which stud or bolt the latch and handle oscillatefreely, the handle end being the heaviest, so that when 'no obstructionis ofiered it will fall of its own weight, and thereby raise the latch.

The latch and handle are constructed with a large bearing-surface incontact with the base plate, to support the same thereon. Upon the upperside of the latch and handle, and

, formed of the same piece, or rigidly secured but that it will fall andlift the latch.

G designates the keeper, secured to the doorjamb or gate-post H, saidkeeper being of substantially an ordinary form, but inverted, or openand beveled on its under side. of the catch or keeper is 011 the swervetoward the latch, causing the latch to ride easily down it, instead ofgrinding on the arris or angle. The latch is represented in the drawingas engaged with the keeper. When it is desired to disengage it therefromand open the door or gate, the .handle is grasped and elevated untilstopped by the stop F b in the position indicated by broken lines inFig. 1, when the door or gate may be pulled open through the medium ofthe handle and without releasing the first hold thereon.

When the handle is released it falls until stopped by the stop F 0, whenit is in proper position for engagement with the beveled portion of theunder side of the keeper upon closing the door, when said beveledportion depresses the latch until it comes opposite the notch in thekeeper, and the weight of the handle throws up the latch into saidnotch, and secures the door in a closed position.

My improved latch is simple in construction, durable, convenient toatfix, and to operate when affixed, self-closin g, and cannot be throwninto an inoperative position.

Letters Patent for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, theChannel Islands, and Isle of Man, No. 4,211, A. D. 1874, were grantedtome for the above-described improvements.

1 claim as my invention The rigid handle, latch, and lug a, pivoted toswing together as set forth, in combination with the base-plate A andstop F b c, the confrontingfaces of the latch O and lug aen gaging theflat faces I) c of the stop F, substantially as described, and for thepurpose specified.

MONTAGUE DAVENPORT.

Notaries, 54 Old Broad Street, London, E. (7., I

Tnos. SMITH,

Clerk (l8 abore.

The face

